Inverness Caley Thistle survive late scare to claim Viaplay Cup group stage victory over Bonnyrigg Rose with Aaron Doran at the double
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Inverness Caley Thistle (2) 2
Bonnyrigg Rose (0) 1
Att 1,077
(Scorers: ICT - Doran 4, 40; BR - McGachie 90)
Last season’s Scottish Cup finalists showed plenty of hunger for more knock-out adventures as an Aaron Doran double sank the League Two visitors.
It had felt like a solid and straightforward first competitive outing of the season for Billy Dodds’ side in rain-drenched Inverness, before a late Kieran McGachie header – one of their few chances – gave the Highlanders a late fright..
Victory gave Caley Jags an early joint lead with Airdrie in group E, which also features top seeds Dundee, although there was an expected degree of rustiness in evidence amid the deluge.
The hosts had enjoyed two pre-season friendly victories – netting 10 goals in all – against Nairn County and Elgin City, but were clearly still building sharpness and match fitness.
With thunder and lightning over the Caledonian Stadium, the home fans were certainly hoping for sparks from their team just six weeks after valiant failure at Hampden Park.
Only three starters from the Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic made yesterday’s home starting eleven - Wallace Duffy, David Carson and Nathan Shaw.
New signings Charlie Gilmour, from St Johnstone and Adam Brooks, from Celtic, slotted into midfield and attack respectively.
Last season’s club top scorer Billy Mckay and skipper Sean Welsh were kept in reserve on the bench, along with experienced Danny Devine and Cammy Harper.
There were four debuts for Bonnyrigg with Jason Jarvie, Reis Peggie, Dean Watson and Smart Osadolor taking their first competitive bows for the League 2 side.
It took the Championship hosts just four minutes to draw first blood, with a Bonnyrigg lapse allowing Aaron Doran in for the opener.
David Carson’s ball forward was mishit in an attempted clearance by defender Neil Martyniuk.
With the ball spinning into the air in front of the Irishman, he smashed a first-time volley high into the net.
Bonnyrigg did well to tighten up for a good spell of the first half, with the Highlanders finding limited opportunities to add to their lead.
Brooks did test keeper Partick Martin with a header clutched before the half hour mark, while Austin Samuels found space on the left side of the box but flashed a shot high and wide.
By then it was monsoon conditions within the Caledonian Stadium.
A rare Bonnyrigg foray into the home penalty area ended with Dean Watson booked for an alleged dive under Zak Delaney’s attentions.
Home keeper Cammy MacKay also had to come out of the box smartly to nick the ball from Watson after he sneaked in on goal.
But Doran claimed his second at a vital time, just five minutes before the break - and it was a wonderful finish.
Striker Brooks was beaten to the ball by a Bonnyrigg defender but it broke to the Irish attacking 22 yards out.
Doran’s sweet first time strike whistled high past the helpless Martin.
Officials had to separate a ruck of players as the teams left the field at half-time after Caley Jags’ Samuels seemed to take exception to something said by an opponent.
The Rose started the second half well with Conor Doan dipping a free-kick just over the bar, while Smart Osadolor had a close-range effort saved by the feet of keeper MacKay.
Samuels went through onto a slipped pass from substitute Billy Mckay on the left, but missed the target just after the hour mark.
Doran was unlucky not to seal his hat-trick with 13 minutes remaining after blasting a shot under the bar from substitute Jake Davidson’s cutback only to see Martin pull off a brilliant instinctive save.
With a spate of substitutions, play seemed to be petering out lamely before ICT’s away trip to Dumbarton on Tuesday evening – before Bonnyrigg struck.
Keiran McGachie able to leap and angle an eight-yard header past keeper MacKay with home defenders caught napping.
Inverness Caley Thistle (4-2-3-1): MacKay; Carson, Duffy (Devine 61), Delaney, Nicolson; Gilmour (Welsh 61), MacGregor (Davidson 61); Samuels (Harper 74), Doran, Shaw; Brooks (Mckay 61). Subs: Ridgers, Strachan, Bray, Thompson.
Booked: Gilmour 42
Bonnyrigg Rose (3-5-2): Martin; Grigor, Martynuik, Doan; McGale, Jarvis (Forbes 80), Stewart, Gray (Connolly 60), Peggie; Watson (Faye 73), Osadolor (McGachie 73). Subs: Andrews,
Booked: Watson
Referee: Scott Lambie
